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general Definition

gen·eral (jen′ər əl, jen′rəl)

adjective

  1. of, for, or from the whole or all; not particular or local a general anesthetic, the general welfare
  2. of, for, or applying to a whole genus, kind, class, order, or race the general classifications of matter
  3. existing or occurring extensively; common; widespread a general unrest
  4. most common; usual the general spelling of a word
  5. concerned with the main or overall features; lacking in details; not specific the general features of a plan
  6. not precise; vague to speak in general terms
  7. senior or highest in rank an attorney general
  8. not connected with or limited to one branch or department of learning, business, etc.; not specialized a general store

Etymology: ME < OFr < L generalis < genus (gen. generis), kind, class: see genus

noun

  1. the main or overall fact, condition, idea, etc.
  2. the head of some religious orders
  3. Archaic the public; populace
    1. any of various military officers ranking above a colonel; specif., U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force such an officer, with an insignia of four stars, ranking above a lieutenant general
    2. U.S. Marine Corps an officer of the highest rank
  5. an anesthetic that makes a patient unconscious

general Idioms

in general

  1. in the main; usually
  2. without specific details
  3. with reference to all spoken of

general Synonyms

general

modif.

  1. Having wide application

    comprehensive, widespread, universal, overall, sweeping, extensive, ecumenical, all-embracing, ubiquitous, unconfined, broad, generic, generalized, across-the-board, taken as a whole, not partial, not particular, not specific, blanket, inclusive, all-inclusive, catholic, wide, worldwide, endless, far-reaching, global, ample.

    Antonyms particular*, special*, limited. *

  2. Of common occurrence

    common, usual, customary, prevailing; see common 1.

  3. Not specific or precise

    indefinite, inexact, imprecise; see obscure 1, vague 2.

in general

generally, usually, in the main, as a whole; see customarily, frequently, regularly 1. See syn. study at common, universal.

general Synonyms

general

n.

commanding officer, general officer, brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, general of the army, general of the air force; see also officer 3.

general Usage Examples

Converse of object

name: President Bush has named assistant attorney general and former appeals court judge Michael Chertoff as Ridge's successor, subject to Senate confirmation.

Adjective modifier

assistant: President Bush has named assistant attorney general and former appeals court judge Michael Chertoff as Ridge's successor, subject to Senate confirmation.

Modifies a noun

  • election: We have started to work toward victory in the next general election.
  • public: ARP wardens were enlisted to help protect the general public during an air raid, for example, guiding people to the shelters.
  • practitioner: In the event of a crisis arising, please contact your general practitioner.
  • secretary: The employer is currently refusing to discuss clauses in agreements relating to job security, the deputy general secretary warned.
  • principle: All the main parties now subscribe to this general principle.
  • rule: The general rule is that literally whatever the idea, query, problem, or project the regional office can help.

Used with adjective complement

become: And then the conversation became general for a short time and we went home.

Noun used with modifier

  • attorney: US states elect their attorney generals, who have party affiliations.
  • director: The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, is also talking to staff today about the wider implications of the Creative Future review.
  • auditor: Jeremy Colman, the auditor general for Wales, is to carry out an investigation into the crisis-hit Welsh ambulance service.
  • army: They started plotting to take over the country from the army generals.

Modifying Another Word

  • sufficiently: Tho adopted without a vote, the resolution is attracts some reservations, but the language is sufficiently general not to attract direct opposition.
  • fairly: Benefits of regulation for crime fighting are therefore not easy to assess and often expressed in a fairly general language.
  • very: This was a very general survey, done from a wide variety of sources.
  • quite: These are only instances of a quite general law.
  • just: I assume that these were just general comments you were making and not directed at me.
  • only: This article will consider only general anesthesia: regional and local techniques will be described in a subsequent article.

Preposition: in

nature: These Croatian courses are more general in nature and are targeted at students with a whole range of different needs.